Single-jointed ice-tongs.



H. W. ELY.

SINGLE JOINTED IGE TONGS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1911.

' Patented Mar. 10, 1914 Gum/M0 0 invrr s'ra'rns Pa EQNT @FFICE.

SINGLE-JOIN'IED ICE-TONGS.

roac es.

Specification of Letters Patent.

jatented Mar. 10, 1914.

Application filed July 3, 1911. Serial No. 636,673.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I-Innennr WELLS ELY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Springfield township, in the county of Bradiord and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Single-Jointed Ice-Tongs; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to ice tongs, and its object is to prevent the user from becoming injured. This is accomplished by forming shoulders in the two members of the tongs where they cross and are pivoted, as specifically described hereinafter and shown in the drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of this improved pair of ice tongs closed as far as it is possible to close them; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the tongs opened as "far as it is possible to open them.

In the drawings are shown two twin members which are precisely alike, and hence a description of one will suiliee for both. Each member then consists of a loop or eye 1 at its upper end which forms a hand-held, and a handle 2 extending from one side of the loop, making a compound bend at the point 3, and then projecting straight onward in a shank l to its other extremity; and a main jaw 5 which has a straight body overlapping the straight shank 4 of the handle and riveted thereto as at 6, and an inturned point 7 at its lower end. This construction provides a laterally oi'l'set shoulder 8 at the upper end of the straight portion of the j aw on each member which contacts with the lower edge of the straight shank of the other handle when the two members are closed together as far as possible around the main pivot, because the jaw of one member stands in the plane of the handle of the other member. Said main pivot, which may be an ordinary rivet, is numbered 10 and takes through the two handle members about where shown. All parts are of the desired proportions, and by preference are of metal so treated that it will not rust.

In use the operator grasps the two loops or hand-holds 1 when a cake of ice is to be lifted and draws them together as far as pos sible. Their approximation is limited by the striking of the lower corners of the shoulders against the lower edges of the straight portions of the opposite members in the manner shown. Oi" course it the cake of ice is sulliciently large to hold the points slightly apart, the hand-holds will not come so close together and the shoulder on one member will not strike the shank of the other. On the other hand, it often occurs that the user will have to spread the points wide apart; and in order that he will not then hit his knuckles upon the back of the jaws I have shaped each handle with the bend 3 adapted at this time to rest upon the upper corner of the shoulder on its companion member as shown. Thus it will be seen that in either the closed or opened position, it is impossible ifor the operator to strike his hand forcibly and accidentally upon the metal portions of this improved tool. The dimensions of parts and the degree and extent oi. the bond 3 will be such that when the inturned points 7 are engaged with a block of ice oi the ordinary size, the hand-holds 1 will be sulliciently close together to be grasped .in a single band; when no ice is engaged by said points, the handholds will come still closer together as seen in Fig. 1 but yet the operator cannot injure his fingers; and when the points are spread far apart as shown in Fig. 2 the upper corners of the shoulders strike said bends be fore a hand which is holding either handheld can strike upon the back of the opposite aw.

What is claimed as new is:

The herein described pair of ice tongs comprising two similar crossed members pivoted together where they cross and each consisting of a jaw section and a handle section riveted together below their pivot, each handle section comprising a transversely disposed hand loop iormcd integral with a shank portion which has a pivot aperture between a straight lower end and a curved intermediate part, the said jaw sections having oppositely disposed inturned points at their lower ends and straight upper portions overlapping and disposed on reverse sides of the straight lower ends 01 the said shank portions, the upper extremities of the jaw members being squared and positioned with respect to the straight and curved parts of the said shank portions, whereby when the jaws are opened to the extreme position the outer corners of the upper ends of the jaw sections will strike the curved parts of the said shank portions to prevent the operator-"s hand engaged with one of the hand loops from contacting with the adjacent jaw section, and when the jaws are brought together to their extreme closing position the inner corners of the upper ends of the jaw 10 sections will strike the straight lower ends of the said shank portions to prevent the points of the aws from striking.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT WELLS ELY.

Witnesses:

GEORGE OCONNOR, E. B. I-IovEY.

f i 1 Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

